Greenhouses in good shape, expert says

Maintenance needed to greenhouses judged to be minimal

Maintenance needed to greenhouses judged to be minimal

SOUTH BEND — The city's greenhouses and conservatories are not in bad shape and need some minor maintenance, according to Richard Diesl, a Lord and Burnham expert who toured the facilities Monday.

“There's no reason why it should be demolished,” he said.

Diesl said he has seen greenhouses in much poorer conditions than the Muessel-Ellison and Ella Morris conservatories. The structures need some maintenance, such as repairing a few broken windows and updating the brick foundations, he said.

Diesl said the current heating pipes in some areas are Â¾-inch, which is too small for proper heating and should be changed. When asked for a cost estimate, Diesl said it would cost roughly in “the thousands” for the repairs.

The Historic Presevation Commission invited Diesl to assess the condition of the structures. Diesl worked for Lord and Burnham from 1969 until the company's closing in 1985. Diesl then started his own company which, now specializes in the restoration of the Lord and Burnham Greenhouses.

Diesl will be presenting his findings at 4 p.m. today at the IUSB Student Activity Center. The presentation is free and open to the public, with free parking available in the Wiekamp Garage.